Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Bijelo Polje and Istanbul

For one person, living is cheaper in Bijelo Polje: $1,289 a month against $1,525 in Istanbul, rent and utilities included – about $2,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Bijelo Polje
🇲🇪 Montenegro
$1,289
/mo nomad
Istanbul
🇹🇷 Turkey
$1,525
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Bijelo Polje and in Istanbul

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Bijelo Polje and in Istanbul actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,289 per month in Bijelo Polje vs $1,525 in Istanbul, rent included.

  • Bijelo Polje $1,289
  • Istanbul $1,525

A couple spends around $2,011 per month in Bijelo Polje vs $2,390 in Istanbul, rent included.

  • Bijelo Polje $2,011
  • Istanbul $2,390

A family of three spends $2,733 per month in Bijelo Polje vs $3,256 in Istanbul, rent included.

  • Bijelo Polje $2,733
  • Istanbul $3,256

Bijelo Polje is about 15% cheaper than Istanbul, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Bijelo Polje sits 5% below the global median, while Istanbul is 13% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bijelo Polje
Istanbul
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.02 €9.80
$11.96 ₺592
-7.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$36.35 €32.33
$57.2 ₺2,834
-36.48%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.06 €8.06
$9.51 ₺471
-4.73%
Cappuccino
$2.64 €2.34
$4.40 ₺218
-40.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48 €2.21
$1.75 ₺86.6
41.71%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58 €1.40
$0.56 ₺27.57
182.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.85 €2.54
$4.71 ₺233
-39.49%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.40 €3.03
$6.14 ₺304
-44.63%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bijelo Polje
Istanbul
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.19 €1.06
$1.24 ₺61.6
-4.03%
White Bread (500g)
$0.97 €0.86
$0.95 ₺47.25
2.11%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.89 €2.57
$2.28 ₺113
26.75%
Eggs
$3.07 €2.73
$2.45 ₺121
25.31%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.14 €8.13
$10.56 ₺523
-13.45%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.19 €6.40
$5.50 ₺272
30.73%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.62 €11.22
$21.65 ₺1,072
-41.71%
Apples (1kg)
$1.32 €1.18
$1.83 ₺90.6
-27.87%
Banana (1kg)
$1.56 €1.39
$2.29 ₺113
-31.88%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.56 €1.39
$1.28 ₺63.4
21.88%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.99 €2.66
$1.82 ₺90.1
64.29%
Potato (1kg)
$0.93 €0.83
$0.66 ₺32.74
40.91%
Onion (1kg)
$1.27 €1.13
$0.63 ₺31.14
101.59%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.52 €1.36
$1.27 ₺62.8
19.69%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.89 €0.79
$0.56 ₺27.62
58.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.89 €3.46
$2.36 ₺117
64.83%
Wine (Bottle)
$4.59 €4.08
$12.98 ₺642
-64.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.27 €1.13
$2.48 ₺123
-48.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72 €1.53
$3.50 ₺174
-50.86%
🚌 Getting Around
Bijelo Polje
Istanbul
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.64 €1.46
$0.82 ₺40.77
100.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$38.93 €34.63
$65.2 ₺3,228
-40.29%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.15 €1.02
$1.33 ₺65.7
-13.53%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.14 €1.01
$0.90 ₺44.60
26.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$16.71 €14.86
$10.91 ₺540
53.16%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.76 €1.56
$1.43 ₺70.7
23.08%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.6K €29.0K
$49.6K ₺2.5M
-34.17%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.2K €18.8K
$43.2K ₺2.1M
-50.96%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bijelo Polje
Istanbul
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$132 €118
$88.8 ₺4,395
49.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.88 €11.46
$11.69 ₺579
10.18%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.04 €30.28
$16.09 ₺797
111.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bijelo Polje
Istanbul
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.82 €41.65
$76.3 ₺3,776
-38.60%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.36 €12.77
$22.72 ₺1,125
-36.80%
Cinema Ticket
$8.01 €7.13
$8.26 ₺409
-3.03%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bijelo Polje
Istanbul
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$56.3 €50.1
$1,015 ₺50.2K
-94.45%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,950 €6,182
$25.8K ₺1.3M
-73.10%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bijelo Polje
Istanbul
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$84.9 €75.5
$53.3 ₺2,636
59.34%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.21 €29.54
$40.55 ₺2,008
-18.10%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$72.3 €64.3
$100 ₺4,956
-27.81%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$95.8 €85.2
$93.5 ₺4,630
2.46%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bijelo Polje
Istanbul
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$633 €563
$977 ₺48.4K
-35.25%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$456 €406
$627 ₺31.0K
-27.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,292 €1,149
$1,980 ₺98.0K
-34.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$930 €827
$1,147 ₺56.8K
-18.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,396 €3,021
$3,095 ₺153.2K
9.72%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,291 €2,038
$1,787 ₺88.5K
28.21%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bijelo Polje
Istanbul
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$848 €754
$1,213 ₺60.1K
-30.14%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.45
40.69
-86.61%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Bijelo Polje: October 17, 2026

Last update for Istanbul: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Bijelo Polje
$456
Istanbul
$627 37.5% $171
Groceries & Markets
Bijelo Polje
$225
Istanbul
$263 16.7% $38
Eating Out
Bijelo Polje
$184
Istanbul
$222 20.5% $38
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bijelo Polje
$179
Istanbul
$117 35% $63
Clothing & Footwear
Bijelo Polje
$129
Istanbul
$129 0.4% $0.6
Sport & Entertainment
Bijelo Polje
$63
Istanbul
$93 47.6% $30
Getting Around
Bijelo Polje
$52
Istanbul
$74 42% $22

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $633 in Bijelo Polje versus $977 in Istanbul. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 43% higher in Istanbul, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $36.00 in Bijelo Polje versus $57.0 in Istanbul. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $225 vs $263 – making Bijelo Polje the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇲🇪 Bijelo Polje
🇹🇷 Istanbul
🕒 Local time
05:28 5:28 AM
07:28 7:28 AM
2 h ahead of Bijelo Polje
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
13,117
15,701,602
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

TRY, USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of October 25, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

Turkish Lira exchange rates as of October 25, 2026: 1 USD = 49.51 TRY (100 TRY = 2.02 USD). 1 EUR = 55.66 TRY (100 TRY = 1.8 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Bijelo Polje Istanbul 790 km ≈ 1 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Bijelo Polje
  • Istanbul

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Bijelo Polje vs Istanbul: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Istanbul cheaper than Bijelo Polje?
Yes – Istanbul is pricier by about 18%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,933 per month in Bijelo Polje and $2,287 in Istanbul. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Bijelo Polje, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do food prices compare in Bijelo Polje and in Istanbul?
Groceries cost about 17% more in Istanbul, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is eating out cheaper in Bijelo Polje or in Istanbul?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $36.00 in Bijelo Polje and $57.0 in Istanbul. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Bijelo Polje or in Istanbul?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Bijelo Polje, where all-in costs run around $1,289, than in Istanbul at $1,525. In Bijelo Polje it covers expenses comfortably, while in Istanbul it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Bijelo Polje or Istanbul more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Bijelo Polje – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Bijelo Polje or Istanbul?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Bijelo Polje. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Istanbul makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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